Rail Budget 2015: Passengers heave sigh of relief, fares not hiked

Mumbai: Passengers can heave a huge sigh of relief as Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced that there would be no hike in passenger fares, while presenting the Rail Budget 2015.

The move is passenger friendly and will not deter people from opting for railways as their preferred mode of travel.

Freight rates were changed however, to rake in money, without resorting to privatization.

Salt was exempted from the freight fare hike. The hike comes into effect from April 2015.

Rates on cement, coal and coke, iron or steel and petroleum products are expected to increase.

The Budget also revised the commodity classification and distance slabs for carriage of commodities that can raise freight rates upto 10 per cent in some of the items.

The announcement came amidst a slew of passenger friendly sops announced by the Railway Minister.

"I have not increased passenger fares. We are directing our efforts to make travel on Indian railways a happy experience with a mix of various initiatives," Prabhu said.

In the hour-long speech, Prabhu unveiled the thrust areas as the national carrier to become the prime mover of economy again, resource mobilisation for higher investments, decongestion of heavy routes and speeding up of trains, passenger amenities and safety.

Some of the other passenger benefits announced by Suresh Prabhu:

• Food can be ordered from IRCTC website while booking ticket.
• Book rail tickets 4 months ( 120 days) in advance against current 60 days.
• Operation 5 minutes to ensure that a passenger travelling unreserved can purchase a ticket within 5 minutes.
• All India 24 X 7 helpline 138 from March 1, 2015; Toll free No.182 – for security complaints.
• Wi-Fi facility to be extended. Category B stations to receive Wi-Fi soon.
• 17000 more toilets to be replaced by Bio-Toilets.